Suction cleaning apparatus.



E. M. WARING.

SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.1G.1909.

1,105,942. Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

EDWARD M. WARING, OF NEW Y0RK, N. Y.

SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 16, 1909.

Serial No. 483,844. 1

portable device adapted to be operated by the foot power of the operator. This may be done either while the operator remains at one spot or whenthe operator is walking about cleaning a room. An apparatus of this kind presents the advantage that :the operation thereof happens wholly instinctively, so to speak, and the operator is at liberty to give the entire attention to the handlingof the cleaning nozzleand tothe object to be cleaned.

In order to accomplish its objects the invention: comprises a suction mechanism adapted to be operated by the foot power of the operator, and to the said mechanism a suitable cleaning nozzle is attached by means of a flexible hose.

The invention also comprises animproved form of nozzle.

The following. specification and the drawing illustrate this invention in its preferred form but changes may of course be made without departing from the scope of the in vention.

Inthe said drawing Figure 1 is a general view illustrating the mode of using the cleaner. Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section and partly in perspective, of a cleaning device embodying my invention; Figs: 3 and 4 are detail views of two formsof dust bags. Figs. 5 and Gare detail views in section of the suction boxes in two different positions. Fig. 7 shows a modified form of suction box. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a nozzle attached to a. carpet sweeping device.

Referring more particularly; to Figs. 2, 5 and 6 the reference numerals 1 and 2 denote the suction. boxes, which are alike and each of which comprises a bottom 3 and top 4.- connected together by a collapsible or bellows section 5 making an air tight box. Theinterior of the box communicates at oneend with the atmosphere through a valve 6, which only opens outwardly. At the other end the top 4 carries a short tube 7 the botwhich only opens inwardly. Speaking with reference to the atmosphere the valve 8 may be called the intake valve and the valve 6 theoutlet valve, as will hereinafter be explained. As the box is inflated and de- Hated the top 4 moves up and downand during its movement it is guided by pins 9 fast in the bottom. Spring 10 coiled around the pins assist in the upward movement of the top. A feature of these suction boxes is, as shown in Figs. 5, and (3, that the bottom and the top are provided with beveled portions 11 and 12 so that when the box is deflated the folded parts of the bellows 5 fits betweenthc beveled portions and thus the top may be brought close down on the bottom. In this manner all the air is forced out of the box for each downward movement of the top: and a powerful suction is obtained.

If desired, rubber buttons 13 may be provided on the bottom, and at the top there is fastened adjustable toe and instep straps 14 and 15 respectively for fastening the boxes to the feet of the operator.

The two boxes are joined to a Y-connection 16 by means of two slightly yieldable hose 17 17 which fit over the aforesaid tubes 7 and the third month of the Y is connected which latter may be carried over the shoulder as shown in Fig. 1 or a strap 19 with a.

Patented Aug. 4, 191 1.

loop 20 may be used for carrying the hose 18. The nozzle 21 in this instance comprises the mouth 22 of any suitable shape or form,

the enlarged connection 23 containing the dust bag and the hollow handle 24. The bag chamber within the connection 23 contains the dust catching bag 25 which is fastened to the mouth by a threaded connection 26 a and it will be observed that all the parts of the nozzle are screwed together for the purpose of being easily taken apart for cleaning.

The dust bag may be made of cheese cloth or similar porous material, permitting pas- I sage of the air but retaining the dust. Fig. 3 shows a bag 27 attached to the threaded connection 28 by a flexible slip ring 29,while the bottom 30 of the bag is solid and attached to the bagby a similar ring 31. In

Fig. 4 the bag 32 is simply tied to the con- I Fig. 1.

"In Fig. 8 the numeral 39 designate a carpet sweeper built on the usual lines. Adjacent the rotating brush 10 I provide a nozzle 41' of any suit-able form and constructed similar to the nozzle 21. In this instance the brush 4:0 sweeps the dust up in addition to the suckingactionof the nozzle.

The-operation of the device is as follows: The operator straps the two boxes to her 4 feet; and adjusts the hose 18 so as to leave her arms and hands free to handle the nozzle. If the operator remains on one spot for a while the sucking action of the boxes is produced by a rocking motion by the alternate lifting of the feet if the operator moves about the suckingaction is produced by the natural lifting and stepping down with the feet in walking. When the top, 4 of. the box is pressed down, the air in the'boX escapes throughithe valve 6 after which said valve iskept closedby the atmospheric pressure. lVhen the weight of the operators body isremo-ved from the box, the top 4 is. forced upward by the springs 10. In this that the operator produces the suction by the natural movements of the feet in walking either on the spot or when moving about while attending to the work of handling the nozzle and without any special effort; Further the suction is more powerful than if it is producedby hand power. Thehose 18 may of course be lengthened and another person than the operator work the suction boxes. The details'ofthe construction may of course be modified without departing from the scope of the invention and I am not to be understood as'confining myself to the exact form shown.

I claim: The combination of a pair of independent bellows adapted to be securedseverally to :y the feet of an operatorwhereby they may be moved from place to place while being operated, flexible piping connecting the suction inlets of the bellows-and a suction pipe cona continuous inflow will be establishe through the suction" pipe.

Signed at New York, N. Y., this 9 day'or EDWARD M; WARING. f

March; 1909.

Witnesses: I IVAN KoNIesBE G, K. G.-LEARD.

nected to the said flexible piping at an intermediate point of the length thereof whereby p Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, I). c. I v 

